It only took 102 games, but the Cubs finally made it three straight on Sunday.Ten times prior Chicago failed to make it three in a row.It’s the club’s first winning streak since October 2, 2010.And the first home winning streak since September 1-4, 2010.The last sweep of Houston at Wrigley came during July, 2007.+++

Chicago is primed to play NL Central spoilers with a three-way tie atop the division. The next 13 games are against divisional foes beginning with a 10-game road trip through Milwaukee, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.

On Sunday Pittsburgh knocked off St. Louis in 10-innings. The Reds also won in dramatic fashion with a Drew Stubbs walk-off HR in the bottom of the ninth vs. Atlanta. Milwaukee, on the other hand, lost 2-1 at San Fran.

-In Japanese baseball, trading players is considered an unusual circumstance and is even actually a bit of an insult. However, after watching teammates like Derrek Lee, Ryan Theriot and Ted Lilly get traded last year, Fukudome seems to understand that trades are just part of MLB’s business culture.

“It really doesn’t bother me,” he said through his interpreter. “As long as I’m a player and people are interested in me, I take it as a compliment.” -Fukudome

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El Caballo

What on earth has happened to Carlos Lee?His go-ahead HR off Samardzija on Sunday is just his 7th of the season.He’s 35-years-old and owed $18.5M in 2012, the final season of a 6-year deal.